• ORGANISATION OF INFORMATION SESSIONS CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (WFD) AND PUPLIC PARTICIPATION
  
  The information and the participation of the public are trick and pivot of a successful implementation of the European water framework directive. The European water framework directive has as an objective to achieve until the year 2015 a good ecological status for the European waters and to manage them on catchment area level. This presupposes an early inclusion, participation and information of the public but also a close transnational co-operation.
  In the context of the implementation of the WFD the partners of the RhineNet organise numerous information meetings.
  A first Workshop concerning the WFD at the Main basin serves as reference for the workshops following.
  There are meetings on the upper Rhine, at Mosel and Saar as well as at the Lower Rhine and Rhine delta sub basins planned.
  The meetings serve to inform the interested public about the WFD, to participate the stakeholders actively in its implementation process and to develop visions for the future management of waters in the Rhine catchment area.
  During the meetings existing examples for the participation of the public in water management are to be presented and the current works of the authorities will be discussed.
  
  
  
  
• CONSULTATION OF THE PUBLIC CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE
  
  The WFD requires for 2006 the establishment of water management plans, which are to contain concrete measures in order to achieve until 2015 a good ecological status of waters. Concerned stakeholders should participate already at an early stage in the establishment of those plans.
  This active stakeholder involvement during the conception process presupposes participation procedures, which go beyond pure information of the population. The RhineNet partnership would like to present suggestions how such an active participation could be arranged and therefore carries out itself in the context of its case studies like also in the different sub-catchments areas of Rhine round tables for the discussion of the assessment and the measure suggestions deriving from it.
  The consultations accomplished by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for environment and traffic at the Neckar are to serve for the RhineNet consortium and beyond as a first experience basis.
  On the basis of the made experiences a manual is to be provided for the execution of the public participation with practice-relevant examples.
  
  
  
  
• A STUDY FOR PROCEDURES IN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN WATER MANAGEMENT
  
  This study should collect and put o the public at disposal procedures of public participation in water management.
  Due to the multilayered character of the geographical, social and social conditions in the Rhine catchment area there cannot be one method of public participation, but it must be dealt with the respective regional conditions. Nevertheless it can be helpful to fall back and construct on the experiences of others, in particular with a new topic like the participation of the public in water management.
  
  
  
  
• A COMPENDIUM OF SELECTED PROJECTS IN WATER PROTECTION IN THE RHINE BASIN
  
  In the frame of the RhineNet the practically accomplished projects like also projects outside of the INTERREG IIIB of promoted program section are in a manual to be described. The projects are to be presented, which promote in our opinion exemplary methods for the protection of waters, and point out new initiatives of transnational water protection and public participation to point. The manual would not like to lay the claim on completeness. It is to form at least the basis for a kind of database to sources of information in the context of the RhineNet
  
  
  
  
  
• REVITALISATION OF THE UPPER RHINE IN A TRANSBOUNDARY REGION
  
  In 2008 the concession for the use of hydroelectric power of the barrage weir Kembs will again be assigned. This new concession will lead to significant changes for the ecology of the upper Rhine and to the use of the water. In November 2002 the BBU AK-Wasser, the BUND Hochrhein, Regiowasser, BASNU and Alsace Nature organised a common meeting about the revitalization of the Old Rhine with representatives from science, administration, and municipalities. A goal of the meeting was to discuss solutions and to submit suggestions as also visions for the development of the Old Rhine. The RhineNet will publish the results of the Workshops as well to promote the spreading of the results and the discussion under the participants concerned and the interested public. A discussion platform to the topic is furnished. On round tables are the results of the environmental impact study to be discussed and measures suggested. A second Workshop is to present the results from the discussion rounds. These activities should avoid potential conflicts, achieve compromises between the participants, and suggest concrete results.
  
  more information (in german) : http://www.restrhein.de/
  
  
  
  
  
• DEVELOPMENT OF THE DREISAM (TRIBUTARY OF THE RHINE NEAR FREIBURG) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND CONSULTATION A LONG AN URBAN RIVER SYSTEMS
  
  This project is part of the activities to the local agenda 21 in Freiburg. The goal of this case study is the improvement of the ecological quality of the Dreisam.
  
  
  
  In meetings the public is to be informed about the Dreisam and consulted in round tables during the planning period. At the same time parallel to the activities of public participation and information the project will be embedded by scientists of the co-operating geographic Institute of the University of Freiburg. As result of these activities a management plan for the Dreisam is to be set up.
  
  more informations are available under http://www.unsere-dreisam.de/projekte/button3.htm (in german only)
  
  
  
  
  
• CLASSIFICATION OF DUTCH WETLANDS
  
  The wetland areas of the Netherlands represent a specific environment of heavily modified waters with high ecological potential. The Netherlands can look back on a long and rich experience in public participation in the water management. The existing methods in public participation are to be used, in order to examine how the river systems are to be classified, their ecological potential improved and how local organizations can be involved during the implementation process of the European Water Framework Directive.
  Work sessions on the topic of the classification of the wetlands and on the implementation of the WFD are to be organized. The results of this conference will be at the disposal to all partners of the RhineNet and will be likewise lead into European working groups on this topic.
  
  more information: Results of three case studies on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in the Netherlands
  
  
  
  
• DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL INFORMATION AND GUIDING PATH AT THE ALB (RIVER AT KARLSRUHE)
  
  The Alb is a river in Karlsruhe, which was classified as Natura 2000 protection area of the European Union. On the same time are the accompanying meadows a well known nearby highly frequented recreation are. The project aims to merge nature protection and recreation activities.
  
       
  
  In a highly frequented green stripe is
  • The river renaturated
  • A nature experience path constructed (in co-operation with the city of Karlsruhe and the actors of the local Agenda 21) and
  • A handy nature guide (flyer) developed explaining the ecological aspects of running waters. The flyer is translated into French and English, and therefore the theme is accessible to an international public.
  The Water experience path gives also information on the European water framework directive.
  
  
  
  
• IMPLEMENTATION OF FLOOD PROTECTION MEASURES IN THE FRAME OF THE INTERNATIONAL FLOOD ACTION PLAN MOSEL/SAAR
  
  Recurring flood events led both on French as well as on Saarland side to a search for solutions. The complexity of the topic requires transnational solutions by the local authorities and the specialists in the departments. The reactivations of former flood areas and off former river branches can on the on side create the necessary retention area and on the other side improve the ecological quality of the waters concerned. Thus the proposed measures consists a contribution to the implementation of the WFD. The carrying out of this plan of action will be accompanied by measures to inform and participate the public. The co-ordination of the individual measures requires a transnational co-operation between the authorities and the groups of interests concerned. The project divides itself into the following sub activities:
  - Re-establishment of an ox-bow of the Schwarzbach in the area of Einöd
  - Reactivation of the inundation surfaces of the Schwarzbach at Homburg Einöd
  - Renaturalisation of the Blies between Woerschweiler and Ingweiler
  - Transnational flood protection action plan in the area of the Blies, the Schwarzbach and the Hornbach
  - Creation of a by pass channel at that the Bist in the height of the Rupp mill
  - Reactivation of the Saar inundation areas at Hostenbach (more information in german)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• INTERNATIONAL RHINE BATHING DAY (part of the European Riverswimming day " Big Jump" )
  
  In the year 2002 the first international Elbe swimming day with large success took place at the Elbe. Inspired by the Elbe swimming an international Rhine bathing day will be conducted 2005 in all neighbouring countries in the context of an European bathing day. The Rhine ranks among waters, which is probably the most affected by humans and its activities. In the last decades considerable efforts toward the improvement of its waters quality took place. However successes are often not noticed in the public. This is partially also because of the fact that the direct access and contact with the river is limited, in contrary to the Swiss riverians of the Rhine, with whom the river swimming represents the rule e.g. in Basel. The international Rhine bathing day has the objective to bring the population with fun and positively occupied actions back to the Rhine and its tributaries and to increase sensitivity for the value of river systems and the ecological interdependencies. The understanding for measures for the re-establishment of a good ecological quality is to be likewise increased by these actions. The international Rhine bathing day is integrated in the European bathing day conducted by the European Rivers Network. More information: (Big Jump) .
  A "test swimming" was organized wit successe on the 18th of July 2004 at Karlsruhe.
  
  
  

   

   -Karlsruhe, 18 .Juli 2004 :Thousends of people celebrated the Internationaler Rheinaktionstag / 75 Jahre Rheinstrandbad (organized by the City of Karlsruhe) . The event is part of the "RhineNet" InterReg Project.
  

  
  

 



- More photos (website of the office for environment Karlsruhe
- Official program

• RIVERS OF IMAGES STREAMS OF WORDS - A PEDAGOGICAL PROGRAM
  
  Rivers of Images Streams of Words is an environmental art and a poetry program with the objective to promote by the means of art and poetry a better understanding of the river basins and their ecology. The program addresses itself to young people between 11 and 18 as the future decision makers 
  
  
  

  Brochure "Rivers of pictures - Flows of words" (pdf)

  Program 3 June - 2 July 2005 (pdf)

                  

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  An educational guide of the European of the Rivers network Loire Vivante created for the Loire has been adapted for Rhine conditions and tested 2004 in Luxembourg. This guide will be sent away tointerested teachers, environmental federations or other networks. The test phase will serve to define and further adapt the program for the Rhine catchments area.
      
  As product of the program will be either a painting or a poem on arts tissue provided by the organisers of the contest.
  
  The best paintings and poems will be set a price by a committee and will afterwards be presented in an itinerant exhibition if possible during a boat trip from Rotterdam to Basel 3. June - 2 July 2005
  Travel - Program (Stops)" (pdf)
  
  
  
  The photos shows Childrens who was partizipating in the pilotproject 2004 (organized by " Fundation Hellef fir die Natur,Luxemburg

  
  more Information : northern german and french Basin :
  - Frau Elena Pina Tatoli (ERN Office Deutschland), (north of Mainz)
  

southern german and french Basin : - Fannie Wetterich (Regiowasser Freiburg) tel: 0761 / 70439848, e-mail: fannie(at)regiowasser.de
( south of Mainz )

Holland, Luxenburg and Switzerland : Overall Coordination :: ERN European Rivers Network, Cécile Simonet, cecile.simonet @ rivernet.org (ohne Leerzeichen)
Phone: l +33 4 71 02 08 14 oder +33 4 71 05 57 88

Link to the Project Webpage by Regiowasser (in german)
Link to the Webpages to the similar project on the Loire Riverbasin (english and german)

• PROJET RHINEINFO
  TRANSRHINE
  by ERN European Rivers Network, soon more informations  !
  Realisation : January 2008 - June 2008
  

• YOUTH FOR THE RHINE (PARLEMENT DES JEUNES POUR LE RHIN)
  by SEE Solidarité Eau Europe
  go to the website
  
  
• TRANSRHINE
  by ERN European Rivers Network, soon more informations  !
  Realisation : June 2007 - June 2008